Quickly removable drum head



I United States Patent [72] Inventor William Price 2813 A Eglinton Ave. E., Scarboroug Ontario, Canada 1 [2| 1 Appl. No. 724,386 [22] Filed April 26, 1968 [45 Patented Oct. 13, 1970 [54] QUICKLY REMOVABLE DRUM HEAD 5 Claims, ll Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl r 84/411 [51] lnt.Cl .Gl0d 13/02 [50] Field olSearch 84/4] 1, 4 l 3, 4l9

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. l6, 226' l2/l925 Strupe 84/419 1,609,940 12/1926 Geisler 84/4l l FOREIGN PATENTS 66.830 I948 Denmark 84/413 Primary ExaminerRichard B Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales Atlorney-George H. Riches ABSTRACT: A rapid change drum head for a musical drum characterized by six or eight toggle locking assemblies. Each locking assembly includes a bracket mounted to the side of the drum shell, and a toggle lock attached to the drum rim by a tensioning rod. A lever hingedly connected to the tensioning rod has a free end which can abuttingly engage a protruding portion of the bracket to draw the drum rim downward upon movement of the lever into a closed position.

Patented Oct. 13, 1970 Sheet INVENTOR wmum PRICE.

ATTORNEY Piten ted 0a. 13, 1970 Sheet g arsrrow; Y

Patented Oct. 13, 1970 3,533,324

Sheet ,2, of 3 mvem'on WJLLIAH rm:

- v ATTamvtY QUICKLY REMOVABLE DRUM HEAD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION provements which will be outlined hereinafter in greater detail, it is advantageous to outline the salient features of the construction of a conventional musical drum. A musical drum consists of a cylindrical drum shell having both of its ends covered by suitable drum skins or heads which are held in place over the ends of the drum shell by drum hoops or rims. Tuning screws, generally six or eight in number, pass through apertures in each drum rim and are screwed into fixed brackets which are mounted at uniformly spaced positions around the drum shell.

Tuning of the drum is accomplished by turning the screws into the brackets. This operation serves to draw the drum rim down over the end of the drum shell, thereby applying tension to the drum skin, which is thus stretched over the end of the drum shell. This tuning operation normally occupies some considerable time, since each individual tuning screw must be individually turned until the desired pitch or tone is attained.

In a conventional musical drum, removal of a drum skin from the drum shell involves removal of each of the aforementioned tuning screws. After all the tuning screws are removed, the drum rim may be removed, thereby permitting the drum skin or drum head to be lifted off the end of the drum shell. The new or replacement drum skin or head may then be fitted over the end of the drum shell, whereupon the drum rim and tuning screws are fitted into place. It is then necessary to tune the drum skin by turning the individual, diametrically opposed, tuning screws in a specific ordered pattern in order to avoid distortion of the drum skin and to increase the tension evenly around the drum skin until the desired, uniform tension of the drum skin is achieved.

In replacing the drum skin of a conventional drum, it is precisely the removal and replacement of the tuning screws which absorbs the operators time. Depending upon the skill and dexterity of the drummer, it generally takes from 5 to minutes to replace the drum head of a conventional musical drum. This delay is of obvious disadvantage to the drummer, especially if the drum skins must be changed during a musical performance. Even during the leisure hours of the drummer, the present method of changing drum heads is clearly both endious and undesirably time consuming.

A primary advantage of the present invention is the provision of means operable to permit rapid removal and replacement of drum skins or heads in musical drums.

A further advantage of the present invention isthe provision of means operable to provide instant tuning of a replacement drum skin to substantially the same tension as that of drum skin which has been removed.

A further advantage of the present invention is the provision of individual fine tuning means operable to permit adjustment of the tuning pattern of the drum skin upon locking said drum skin over the end of the drum shell.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is the adaptability of the novel drum head locking means to conventional drum rims and drum shells, thereby lowering both the manufacturing costs of new drums and the conversion costs for converting the locking arrangement of existing drums to the advantageous arrangement disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION drum rim to said drum shell, said means comprising a plurality of locking assemblies, each locking assembly comprising in combination:

a. complementary catch elements, one catch element being mounted to said drum shell and the other catch element being mounted to said drum rim;

b. toggle lock means connected to one of said complementary catch elements and operable to lock onto the other of said complementary catch elements in a releasable fashion, to thereby lock said drum rim against said drum shell and tension said'drum skin over said drum shell.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each locking assembly may be provided with means operable to adjust the locking tension between the drum rim and the drum shell. 7

In accordance with further preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is desirable that sixor eight locking assemblies be'employed in locking the drum rim over the drum shell. In the context of the present invention, it shall be understood that while six or eight locking assemblies should preferably be employed, any number of locking assemblies in excess of two may be employed. If only two locking assemblies are utilized, it will be apparent that the drum rim should have a flexural rigidity which is greater than that required in the case where a greater number of locking assemblies is employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention and its many advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description of several illustrative embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a musical drum which utilizes locking assemblies in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of novel toggle lock means and one of the two catch elements in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the musical drum of FIG. I, showing the drum rim and drum skin exploded away from one end of the musical drum and further showing the toggle lock means in open position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a novel locking assembly in closed position in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 3 (the first embodiment and showing a partial section of the drum shell, drum rim, and drum skin;

FIG. 5 shows the novel locking assembly of FIG. 4 in open or released position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a novellocking assembly in closed position in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, and showing the drum shell, drum rim, and drum skin in partial section;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the novel locking assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of a musical drum showing a novel locking assembly in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the novel locking assembly of FIG. 8 and showing the drum shell, drum rim, and drum skin in partial section;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a novel locking assembly in open position in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention and showing the drum shell, drum rim, and drum skin in partial section;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the novel locking assembly of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 5 serve to illustrate the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. l and 3, drum rim 2 serves to tension the drum skin 3 upon drawing the drum rim'2 downwardly over the end of the drum shell 1. The drum skin 3 has a skirt 20 which folds down over the head of the drum shell and terminates in outwardly extending annular flange 21. The drum rim 2 is ring-shaped and is provided with an outwardly projecting flange portion Zu. The drum rim fits over the skirt 20 with the portion 2a resting on the flange 21.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the present in vention, one of the two complementary catch elements comprises the drum rim which is provided with perforated portions 2a. The other of the two catch elements is a bracket 5 having at least one protruding formation 6 and being mounted to the drum shell 1 by suitable conventional meansv The toggle lock means which are generally indicated at 4 includes the combination of a lever member 7 of elongated form, a substantially vertically disposed tensioning element 8, and a yoke member 10. The upper end of the tensioning element 8 is connected-to portion 2a of the drum rim 2, and the tensioning element 8 is hingedly connected to the lever member 7 at a first horizontal axis indicated at 9 and disposed intermediate the ends of the lever member 7. The yoke member 10 is hingedly connected to the lever member 7 at a second horizontal axis indicated at 11 which is disposed adjacent one end of the lever member 7. The yoke member 10 has at least one recessed formation 12 which can abuttingly engage the aforementioned protruding formation 6. I

To permit fine tuning of the drum skin 3, it is preferable that the tensioning element 8 consist ofa headed bolt 8b which can threadably engage a crossbar member 811. The crossbar member 8a is hingedly connected to the lever member 7 at the first axis 9 and has a vertically disposed, upwardly opening, threaded bore 13 at its upper end. The headed bolt 8b has a threaded shank which can pass through an aperture in portion 2a of the drum rim 2 and which can threadably engage the threaded bore 13. The head of the headed bolt 8/; is larger than the aperture of portion 2a and can abuttingly engage the upper surface of portion 20 adjacent the aperture.

It is preferred that each protruding formation 6 have the shape of a nail head and of a portion of a nail shaft integral therewith as particularly illustrated in FIG. 2. Accordingly, it is desirable that each recessed formation 12 consists of an aperture having the outline of a circle joined to and mounted atop of a vertically disposed rectangle. The diameter of the circle should be greater than the diameter of the nail head and the width of the rectangle should be less than the diameter of the nail head but greater than the thickness of the nail shaft.

The lever member 7, tensioning element 8 and yoke member 10 may be hinged together in any conventional manner. As shown in FIG. 2, crosshead member 8a may be placed inside a U-shaped slot in lever member 7, whereupon a pin 14 may be inserted through apertures (generally indicated at 9) to provide a first axis as mentioned hereinabove. One end of lever member 7 may then be inserted between flanged portions of yoke member 10, and pins 15a and 15b may be inserted through apertures in these flanged portions to pass through complementary apertures adjacent the end of lever member 7, to thereby provide the second horizontal axis which is indicated at 11. It will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other pivoting arrangements and configurations of cooperating elements may be effectively used in practising the invention. It will also be apparent that the distance between the first horizontal axis 9 and the second horizontal axis 11 should be at least as great as the maximum desired downward movement of the drum rim 2 over the end of the drum shell 1, in order to permit adequate variation of the tension in the drum skin 3 byadjusting the threaded position of the headed bolt 8b in cross member 8a.

In order to replace a drum head or drum skin 3, each of the toggle locking means 4 is released into open position by raising the free ends of the lever members 7; this releases the tension on the drum skin 3 and causes the keyhole apertures 12 of the yoke member I0 to move downwardly relative to the headed nail protruding formations 6 of each bracket 5. Each of the yoke members 10 may then be moved away from the brackets 5 to permit removal of the drum rim 2. The drum skin 3 may then be replaced by a new drum skin, whereupon the drum rim 2 may then be replaced over the new drum skin and the end of the drum shell. Each yoke member 10 is then positioned into engagement with the protruding formations 6 of the brackets 5 and the lever members are then levered downwardly to their closed position, thereby tensioning the new drum skin to approximately the same tension as that of the replaced drum skin. 7

If finer tuning is desired, the tensioning bolts 8b may be turned in order to adjust the tension of the drum skin 3.

It has been the inventor's experience that, in accordance with the present invention, a drum skin may be replaced in a matter of seconds, while this operation takes from 5 to 15 minutes when a conventional musical drum is used.

It will be seen that if the headed bolts 8b are not adjusted when a drum skin is to be changed, the rim 2 will return to the same downward position relative to the drum shell 1 as before the change, thereby automatically applying the same tension to the drum head or drum skin and attaining the same pitch as was characteristic of the original head. The elimination of fine tuning is, of course, predicated on the assumption that each drum skin has been manufactured by the same company, and is the same model number or type, as is the common practice. Any minor variation from one drum skin to another may be neglected in most applications (e.g. high school drum bands, marching bands, amateur groups, etc. master drummers will, of course, still be able to effect the minor tuning adjustment which they require by merely turning the headed bolts 8b.

Second Embodiment FIGS. 6 and 7 serve to specifically illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. In broad outline, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the yoke member has a protruding formation, while the bracket has a recessed formation.

As specifically illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower end of the yoke member 10 is bent upwardly to form a hook 60 in vertical cross section, the free end of the hook 60 being directed for the drum shell 1. The bracket 5 is shaped to form a shallow U-shaped gap or vertical slot, in horizontal cross section. Upon moving the lever member 7 into closed position, the yoke member moves upwardly, whereby the hooked portion 60 catches onto the bracket 5 at the slot 12.

In other respects, both the construction and operation of this second embodiment closely resembles the construction and operation of the first embodiment as outlined hereinabove.

Third Embodiment FIGS. 8 and 9 serve to illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention in specific detail. This third embodiment will now be described in broad outline. One of the two complementary catch elements consists of a yoke member 10' which is mounted to the drum shell 1 in some conventional manner (e.g. nails, wood screws or the like). The other of the two complementary catch elements comprises a radially outwardly projecting flange portion 2a of the drum rim 2. The flanged portion 2a has a radially outwardly opening slot 16 of U-shaped outline. For this third embodiment, the toggle lock means 4 comprises in combination a lever member 7 of elongated form, a substantially vertically disposed tensioning element 8, and the above-mentioned yoke member 10'. The upper end of the tensioning element 8 has a head portion whose lateral dimension is greater than the width of slot 16 and has a shank portion disposed below the head portion. The lateral dimensionof the shank portion is less than the width of the slot l6. This tensioning element 8 is hingedly connected to lever member 7 at a first horizontal axis 9 disposed intermediate the ends of lever member 7. The yoke member 10 is hingedly connected to lever member 7 at a second horizontal axis II which is disposed adjacent one end oflever member7.

- member 8a to permit any desired adjustment of the locking tension.

In operation, the drum skin may be replaced by levering the lever member 7 into open position for each locking assembly and then swinging each tensioning element 8 out of the corresponding slot l6,to thereby free the'drum rim'Z. The drum rim 2 may then be lifted off and the the drum skin 3 may be replaced by a new drum skin, whereupon the drum rim 2 is once again fitted into place. Each tensioning element 8 is then swung back into each slot 16 so that the head portion of the tensioning element is in abutment with the upper surface of the protruding portion 2a adjacent the slot 16. Upon levering the lever members 7 into closed position, the drum rim 2 is drawn downwardly over the end of the drum shell 1, thereby returning the drum skin 3 to approximately its original tension.

Fourth Embodiment FIGS. and 1] serve to specifically illustrate a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention.

in accordance with this embodiment, one of the two complementary catch elements comprises the drum rim 2 as at portion 2a thereof, while the other catch element comprises a bracket 5' having a protruding flange 17 of downwardly concave vertical cross section. Toggle lock means 4'comprises the combination of a lever member 7 of elongated form, oneend of which is abuttingly engagable with the underside of the protruding flange l7, and a substantially vertically disposed tensioning element 8 which is hingedly connected the lever member 7 at a horizontal axis 9' disposed intermediate the ends thereof, wherein the upper end of the tensioning element 8 is connected to the drum rim 2 at portion 2a.

Once again, the tensioning element 8 may consist of a headed bolt which is threadably engagable with a vertically disposed, upwardly opening, threaded bore 13 at the upper end of a crossbar member 8a, and wherein the crossbar member 8a is hingedly connected to lever member 7 at horizontal axis 9. v

The operation of the locking assemblies of the present invention closely resembles the operation previously described for the first embodiment, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Since changes and variations in details can be made in practising the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended to include in the scope of the appended claims all such modifications as will be obvious to those a skilled in the art from the description given herein.

lclaim:

1. In a drum having a drum shell, a drum skin, and a drum rim for retaining a drum skin in tension over said drum shell, means for locking said drum rim to said drum shell, said means comprising a plurality of locking assemblies, each locking assembly comprising in combination, complementary catch elements comprising a plurality of first catch elements being mounted to said drum shell and a plurality of second catch elements carried by said drum rim, a toggle lock means releasably connecting each of said first catch elements to its respective second catch element to thereby lock said drum rim onto said drum shell and tension said drum skin over said drum shell, each toggle lock means comprising a lever member of elongated form having one end pivotally connected to one of said catch elements, a substantially vertically disposed tensioning element having one end connected to said drum rim. and the other end hingedly connected to said lever member, said tensioning element comprising a crossbar member hingedly connected to said lever member about an axis spaced from said one end, said crossbar member having a vertically disposed, upwardly opening, threaded bore at the upper end of said crossbar member, a headed bolt having a threaded shank operable to pass through an aperture in said drum rim and to threadably engage said threaded bore, the

head of said headed bolt being larger than said aperture and operable for abutting engagement with the upper surface of said rim adjacent said aperture, whereby on actuating the lever in one direction the tensioning element is released permitting release of said catch elements and on actuation of the lever in the opposite direction said lever is locked in its tensioning position.

2. Means according to claim 1, and further including means operable to adjust the locking tension between said drum rim and said drum shell.

3. In a locking assembly according to claim 1 in which each firstcatch means comprises a bracket detachably mounted on said drum shell and the respective lever is pivotally connected thereto whereby the said first catch means can be detached from the drum shell.

4. in a drum having a drum shell, a drum skin, and a drum rim for retaining a drum skin in tension over said drum shell, means for locking said drum rim to said drum shell, said means comprising a plurality of locking assemblies, each locking assembly comprising in combination, complementary catch elements comprising a plurality of first catch elements being mounted to said drum shell and a plurality of second catch elements carried by said drum rim, a toggle lock means releasably connecting each of said first catch elements to its respective second catch element to thereby lock said drum rim onto said drum shell and tension said drum skin over said drum shell, each toggle lock means comprising a lever member of elongated form having one end pivotally connected to one of said catch elements, a substantially vertically disposed tensioning element having one end connected to said drum rim and the other end hingedly connected to said lever member, said second catch elements comprising a plurality of equally spaced apertured ears projecting outwardly from said drum rim and wherein one end of each of said tensioning elements is secured in a respective one of said ears, whereby on actuating the lever in one direction the tensioning element is released permitting release of said catch elements and on actuation of the lever in the opposite direction said lever is locked in its tensioning position.

5. In a locking assembly according to claim 4 in which each ear is formed with an outwardly opening slot communicating with the ear aperture permitting the tensioning element to be detached without disturbing its adjustment. 

